Reinforced concrete (RC) deep beams are increasingly used in structural applications such as offshore platforms, high‐rise buildings, foundations, and nuclear facilities. However, the absence of a universally accepted strut‐and‐tie method (STM) for their design remains a critical challenge. This study is limited to investigates the behavior of RC deep beams by comparing experimental results with finite element analysis (FEM) performed using VecTor2 prediction to demonstrate the software’s reliability for complex shear‐critical members, a software based on the modified compression field theory (MCFT). The comparison focuses on load capacity, stiffness, crack patterns, and failure modes. The results demonstrate that FEM accurately captures the overall structural response, with predicted crack patterns closely matching experimental observations. While both approaches yield comparable ultimate loads, FEM simulations display higher post‐peak stiffness due to idealized assumptions such as perfect bond, material homogeneity, and simplified tension‐stiffening behavior unlike the more brittle failure observed in physical tests. Shear‐compression was identified as the dominant failure mechanism in both approaches. Web reinforcement significantly improved shear performance by promoting controlled crack development and delaying failure. Overall, the findings confirm that FEM simulation based on MCFT using VecTor2 software is a reliable and valuable tool for analyzing the complex behavior of RC deep beams, providing a strong complement to experimental investigations.
Hassan et al. (Thu,) studied this question.